Slam bid over, Spieth still can join select club at PGA Championship
KOHLER, United States: A Grand Slam won’t be on the line, but Jordan Spieth will still be shooting for a piece of golf history when the PGA Championship tees off at Whistling Straits on Thursday.
The 22-year- old American will be squarely in the spotlight as he tries to join Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to win three major titles in the same year.
“That would be just such special company,” Spieth said. “But just like at The Open Championship, when I get there, it’s just going to be about that tournament, and that’s all that will be on my mind.”
Spieth will have a close-up view of one of his biggest rivals for the crown — defending champion and world number one Rory McIlroy — as they are grouped together for the first two rounds along with American Zach Johnson — who triumphed last month at the British Open where Spieth was unable to capture the third major of the year.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy will be teeing it up for the first time since the US Open at Chambers Bay after an ankle injury prevented him from defending his British Open crown at St. Andrews.
It remains to be seen if he’ll be at full strength, but McIlroy said after a practice round at Whistling Straits his ankle was a “non-issue”.
“I’ve come a long way in five weeks,” the 26-year- old told the Golf Channel.
Spieth, who says his failure to make it three straight major titles at St. Andrews in July has only stoked his appetite, could still join Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods as the only players to win three majors in the same year.
Since watching Johnson hoist the Claret Jug in St. Andrews, Spieth has turned his attention to the PGA Championship, putting in a two- day trip to Whistling
But just like at The Open Championship, when I get there, it’s just going to be about that tournament, and that’s all that will be on my mind.
Jordan Spieth
Straits to practice on the linksstyle course laid down on the shores of Lake Michigan.
“I think it’s a ball- strikers golf course,” Spieth said.
During Spieth’s scouting trip, high winds forced players off the course, and such conditions would add to the challenge of the Pete Dye- designed Straits track that produced PGA Championship playoff victories for Vijay Singh in 2004 and Martin Kaymer in 2010. — AFP